$5 Liberty Gold Coin

$5.00 Liberty Head Gold Half Eagle Quick Facts

Design by Christian Gobrecht

.242 oz. pure gold

Mintage: 1839–1908

The $5.00 Liberty Head Gold Half Eagle — a crowning achievement

In his 1839 design of the Liberty Head Gold Half Eagle, Christian Gobrecht removed the ribbon from Lady Liberty’s flowing hair and put it up in a bun, then crowned her with a coronet inscribed with the word “Liberty.” The new symbol would reign for decades.
Although there were several modifications to the design in the first four years, Liberty Head Gold Half Eagles are usually classified into three general categories:
• First Head. Minted only in 1839 — these had the mint mark on the obverse.
• Second head; no motto. Minted between 1840 and 1866, these had the mint mark on the reverse.
• Second head; motto. In 1866 the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” was added to the reverse. The mint mark remained on the reverse.
Liberty Head Gold Half Eagles are the only gold coins to be struck at seven different mints (Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, Carson City, San Francisco and Denver).